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White House forecasts budget cuts for Georgia

ATLANTA — The White House predicts that automatic budget cuts scheduled to take place Friday would affect Georgians of all ages, with the biggest impact on the military.

The White House compiled the numbers from federal agencies and its own budget office. The numbers reflect the impact of the cuts this year. Unless Congress acts by Friday, $85 billion in cuts are set to take effect from March-September.

As to whether states could move money around to cover shortfalls, the White House said that depends on state budget structures and the specific programs. The White House did not have a list of which states or programs might have flexibility.

The projections:

—Teachers and schools: Georgia would lose about $28.6 million in funding for primary and secondary schools. About 390 teacher and aide jobs would be at risk.

—Work-study jobs: About 2,490 fewer low-income students would receive financial aid and 890 fewer would get work-study jobs to help pay for college.

—Head Start: Services would be eliminated for about 1,700 children.

—Environment: Georgia would lose $3.5 million to ensure clean water and air and nearly $1 million in grants for fish and wildlife protection.

—Military: About 37,000 civilians working for the military would be furloughed and lose $190 million in pay. Funding for Army and Air Force operations would be cut $238 million.

—Jobs: About 33,160 fewer people would get assistance in finding jobs due to the loss of $873,000.

—Child Care: Up to 1,100 children would lose access to child care.

—Vaccines: About 4,180 fewer children would get vaccinations for measles, mumps and other illnesses due to a funding cut of $286,000.

—Public health: About 2,400 fewer people would be admitted to substance abuse programs and 14,300 fewer HIV tests would be performed due to a $4 million cut in public health funding.

—Seniors: Funding for meals for seniors would be cut about $1.3 million.

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